Golf putter



Aug 9, '1949.

n J. F. DRAKE Filed Feb. 25, 1948 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 I UNEEED VSa'l'ATl"E125 PEENI OFFICE Y i n 2.478.468 y GOLF PUf'iTiiit John' F. Drake, Ponca City; Ollar Appiieatiofrretruafy 25, 194s; seifai. raises 2 claims. (01.273L773' inventionrelatestdgoificlb cexistiaretionV ninretparticularly to the cens'tructi'cnof golf ciilbsilnown as putters, the primary object of' the invention being tcf-y provide/ a'golf putter wherein the weight of the club is centered in the headY conforming to the curvature of the sole of the blade of the club, thereby providing a putter with a substantially small grounding surface, to the end that the possibility of the stroke being scuffed will be greatly reduced.

Another object of the invention is to construct the end of the shaft of the club where the shaft connects with the club head in such a way that the entire upper edge of the blade of the club will be visible at all times during the putting stroke, permitting the player to properly line up the club head with the ball and cup.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a shaft having an offset portion at the point of connection with the -club head, the

offset portion of the shaft constituting a weight to balance the club head while the major portion of the club shaft and grip are in a line with the center of gravity of the club head.

Y With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangementof parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a putter, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view taken from the rear of the club head.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the club head, a portion of the shaft having been broken away.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View through the club head, illustrating the method of connecting the usual hollow club shaft to the offset end of the shaft which connects with the club head.

iaefrringf to# the drawing in debia-i1; die club c'ni'pifises a" lfiea'tl 5; whiclrincludesthe blade s'ection t; which' has ai straight putter" edge 1f.' y

The s'fole; of the blad isV curvedl longitudinally thfghouftf entire ien'gtiigA as' clearlyshcwn' ujy Fig. 3 of tlief drawing',l and is curve'dtarisvrsely assnc'wnE bviig. roffte'drawig",'providing a sutistantially small grounding surface 8. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, when the club is moved towards the ball in making a golf stroke the chances of the sole of the putter scufiing the green or putting surface, are reduced to a minimum. Y Formed integral with the lower rear edge of the blade section B, is the flange 9, which is of a length equal to the length of a blade, the rear edge of the flange being curved, as clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, the width of the flange at a point intermediate its ends being greater than the distance that the offset portion Il) of the club shown, extends from the blade, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described. As shown by Fig. 4 of the drawing, this flange 9 curves upwardly from the lower edge of the blade section 6 so that when the club is properly grounded, the flange S will be spaced from the putting surface. This flange 9 is also curved longitudinally, conforming to the longitudinal curvature of the blade 6, so that when the club head is held in the hands of the Player as a pendulum, the club will hang vertically and as- Y sume the position on the putting surface as shown by Fig. 4, the club held being in complete balance.

The offset portion of the shaft is solid to lend weight to the shaft at its point of connection with the club head and to offset the weight of the club made at the toe endv thereof, owingk to the fact that the shaft connects with the club head at a point beyond a vertical line drawn through the center of the club head.

The main portion of the shaft indicated by the reference character l l is hollow and is fitted over the end of the offset portion I0 of the shaft, where it is secured in any suitable manner. The reference character I2 indicates the grip of the club.

It might be further stated that the offset section I0 of the shaft is connected with the head 5 by extending one end thereof into an opening formed in the rear surface of the blade section, there being provided an anchoring pin I3 eX- tended vertically through the blade 6, the pin also passing through an opening in the inner end of the offset portion I0 where it may be secured as desired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided an exceptionally heavy and accurately balanced putter head, which will cause the ball strok-ed with the club to receive the full impact of the stroke without vibration to lend to the accuracy of the stroke due to the fact that the ball stroked with the club is 'started in a direct line.

It will further be seen that because of the curvature of the sole of the blade and ange thereof, only a small groundiigsurface is provided which will 'greatly reduce the possibility of the golf club scufng the putting surface during the putting stroke.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A golf putter comprising a club head, the lSole of the club head being curved longitudinally, a flange formed integrally with the lower edge of the club head, and extending rearwardly therefrom, said flange being inclined upwardly from a point intermediate the ends of th-e sole, provid- ,ing a lcavity and a substantially small grounding surface, a shaft having an offset end connected with theclub head at the rear thereof, said shaft -extending into an opening in the rear surface of -the club head at a point intermediate the upper and lower edges of the club head from where the yshaft is curved downwardly lying within the cavity of the ange, and a grip on said shaft.

2. A golf putter head comprising a body portion formed with a straight upper edge and a curved lower edge curved upwardly from the center thereof, the rear surface of the head being inclined upwardly and forwardly, a wide rearwardly extended flange formed integral with the body portion, said ilange being curved upwardly from the rear of the club.l providinga cavity for the receptionof a club shaft secured to said head.

JOHN F. DRAKE.

REFERENCES CITED Y The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

